A Moonlit Swim [open]

[Storm]

Alexius

An eerie calmness took flight, soaring with the wind, sweeping its curtains of serenity over the entire scene. The world seemed alien and cruel compared to this tranquil night. The creatures of the jungle were quiet as could be. Not a sound could be heard. The scent of damp air and the mossy ground hung in the air, filling every being's nostrils. The Twilight Pool glowed dimly in the evening night, streams of crepuscular light illuminating the gentle waves of water as they rolled smoothly over the somewhat flat surface. The grass swayed with the light breeze, dipping slightly into the water at the point where the greenery gently changed into a sandy area, soft and abnormally spongy under paw.

Like a spotted feather in the night, a form sat, perched upward, at the bay, waving back and forth. Ears were pointed vertically. Tail was swinging about idly. Eyes were set forth on the beauty that was the dazzling pool of clear liquid. They glowed faintly in the dark obscurity, stunning green-brown orbs narrowed to see better. Thoughts floated through his mind sluggishly, like sailboats trying to get past the tides of distraction, men dashing about frantically trying to get everything in order to finally leave the harbour. He was on the brink of sleep, but, for some reason, he could not seem to cross the invisible boundary into unconsciousness. His ears swiveled around then back swiftly, cautious for any newcomer.

"Ah," murmured the leopard when he saw that nobody was coming. He'd come out here to clear his minds. The past few weeks had been... different. So much work and so many aberrations, trying to detour him in his duties. One such of these oddities was constant nightmares. Surely he had grown too old to take real interest in them, yes. But what really grasped at his attention was what they were about. His sister. Her dead corpse laying at the bottom of the mangled tree, bloodied and broken with jagged rocks underneath. He suddenly felt sick. His sister. His dear, dear sister. Dead. The leopard had to concentrate on the pool hardly before daring to think about it again. It was a very touchy subject, one most of his fans hadn't dared speak about in front of him. But he knew. He knew they always conversed about it when his back was turned. Common gossip around their clan.

His stomach lurched once more, and this time his head jolted upright, a sour taste in his mouth. He couldn't think about her. Not now. Not when he was trying to calm himself. With glazed eyes, he peered over the pool and its allure. He silently wondered what it would be like to get into the water. He grinned, something rare. Standing completely up, his height making him tower over the pool, he slowly put a foot in. As soon as he had, he yanked it out, droplets of water flying. Cold. Very cold. He leisurely put his wet paw back, more cautiously this time. Giving himself enough time to get used to it, he unhurriedly walked into the water, bathing himself in the pure water. It felt wonderful against his skin, his fur spiking up around his neck.

"I wonder...." he murmured then suddenly dived under. He blinked open his eyes under the unadulterated liquid. The world of water was teeming with life. Fish swam freely about, darting here and there. Tadpoles wriggled, fixing him with their invisible but bland stare. He stayed under for as long as he could before swimming back to the surface. When his head broke it, he gasped, choking on water before laughing. He grinned brilliantly, white teeth gleaming. "Dazzling." he said quietly. Then Alexius shook his head, water spraying everywhere, the domes soaring through the air.

[stripe]

Camari

A cold gust of wind bashed through the forest battering against trees and running through the underbrush making the vegetation shudder beneath its power. All except for the dark outline of a fairly large predator that stalked through the bushes silently giving her an eerie presence. Her dark fur was melded with the shadows of the towering trees that reached high above, so high they seemed to be holding the sky on their stiff strong trunks of theirs. The predator didn't even seem a bit interested in the functions the trees performed to make her life better though, in fact she was on her way to the pool of water, her arch nemesis. A strange enemy to have considering it keeps her alive but a reasonable no doubt considering her past.

The predator shuddered at the thought glancing at her tail for only a second. Whats so interesting with her tail? The predator bounded into a clearing, the faint light of the moon shone upon her revealing her tail to be half gone, a sad memoir of her traumatizing cub-hood and one that had robbed her of most of her balance forever. Actually now seeing her in the soft glow of moonlight she was a beautiful powerful panther. Her black fur glistened, seeming to trickle over her large powerful muscles like a black waterfall. And her eyes? They were a bright yellow almost pearly white color almost like lightning had struck her eye. It gave her that look of such power for such beautiful eyes it was almost startling to see sadness empowering her every move. Empowering her every thought. Tonight she could not sleep at the camp.

I know that isn't surprising considering that she is anti-social. She must've been claustrophobic clustered with all those leopards! But as surprising as it may be that wasn't the reason she was up and about heading toward her nemesis for a midnight drinking. No, it was the remembrance of the doing of her only brother, the murder he committed. A flashback popped into her mind of her parents cold lifeless bodies laying in a pool of blood, their eyes screaming the terror they felt before life had vanished and disappeared from underneath them taking them by surprise. Not only that but it showed the weak state they were in before they died at the claws of her brother.

Brother what did that word mean, did it mean someone who was a blood relative of yours and shared the same liter as you or the same parents as you? Or was it someone who you loved? She truly didn't know and she knew that she wouldn't ever know. That panther had abused his power as her brother, as her younger brother. The panther shook the thoughts from her mind before she continued, already trembling so much from her ghastly thoughts she could hardly stand but she continued, not wanting to show weakness to anyone. Not even the moon that watched her from the sky above of the few bushes that surrounded her.

Upon continuing through the forest once more, it wasn't long before she encountered the pool. She glared at it as she always did when she came here staring at the her rippling reflection. Stepping up to take a drink she was soon startled by a head popping up from the depths of the pool choking a spluttering loudly, she even froze to her spot, fear waving off her as she remembered her own experience until she realized that the ting was laughing LAUGHING! Not choking!

She was angry at herself, thinking of such a thing she literally was terrified. Phssh! Like she would let that happen again. Already in an annoyed state by the other presence she began to walk off that was before she felt water splatter across her pelt from him. She felt it seep through her fur touching her skin with its cold touch but to her it felt like searing pain. She growled unable to keep back her anger. "Watch it you dimwit!" she snapped at him baring her teeth to get the point across that he should leave. She just wanted to have a cooling drink after all and she didn't want him here.

[Storm]

Alexius

The wind whipped about, chilling the water on his fur, making it seep in, chilling his bones. A grin plastered on his mouth, he swung his head back and shook his pelt as violently as a wild boar. For a second, his thoughts roamed to the plains of Foggy Ridge, the lion's territory. He began to think about what it would be like to have a long beautiful mane. But, then again, it would be torture trying to get water out of it. He thought about the pros and cons of lion-hood, promptly ignoring the splatter of water on the bay of the transparent pool. He knew someone was there. He'd caught there scent minutes before they had even come into sight. He didn't really care. If they wanted something from him, they'd speak to him. And he knew they were no danger of his. Their smell was strictly leopard or black panther, same thing really, and black panthers and leopards were friends of Leopard Group.

He ducked back under the water quickly, loving how it felt against his skin, flattening his silky fur and making his muscles seem all the more broader. Every single strand of fur had water as a barrier between the next. It felt nice to cool off after such a long day and such a horrendous dream. His thoughts strolled off to his dream. He'd been walking through the dark jungle, the leafy trees blending into one another. He'd heard a cry of pain to the... south. Picking up the pace, some of the thorned plants scratched at him. He'd been getting nearer to the sound then he'd jumped over a bush to see a scene of terror. His sister was clawing behind her as the raced up a blackened tree, a black figure clawing right back. Suddenly his sister slipped and began to fall. He tried to save her but he was too late. His sister lay mangled on the bloodied rocks. Dead. He'd turned to the murderer, his gaze hard only to be petrified. The cat had no face.

His lungs felt as if they were exploding and he realized he'd been under way to long. Thrashing, he made his way to the top, head crashing out of the water as he gasped. He shook his head some more, trying to get the water out of his black ears. He stared forth with green-brown eyes, watching across the pool, the opposite way of the other being, not far off. His chest fell and rose with ragged breaths. He could hardly breathe and his lungs felt as if they had been beaten with rocks. His limbs felt loose and tired as if they could detach from his torso at any second. His ears were now flat against the sides of his head and he had to strain them to hear what the other figure said.

"Watch it you dimwit!"

Despite himself, he let out a low chuckle. You've just been drowning and now you're being insulted. How stereotypical. Quietly, he turned in the water, paws slowly rotating him. He almost jumped at what he saw. A black cat, like in his dream, was giving him a stony glare. He blinked his eyes then was relieved at once. This cat, at least, had a face. Strong-looking with curved, narrow features. He guessed people would consider her beautiful. He didn't know what he saw. Didn't ever notice females much. He tilted his head to the side, a smile curling on his black lips. Dimwit... dimwit. He'd never been called that before. In fact, he'd never been insulted, except by his sister. But that was different. It was humorous to see another do it.

"Well, hello." he said in a quiet, gentle voice. His eyes probed the creature that stood in front of him delicately. "Quite an odd way of exchanging greetings you have." He decided he must look a little bit like a dimwit in the cold pool, anyhow. He quickly swam to the bay, feeling a flash of happiness and assurance as his huge paws sank deep into the grey sand. He padded right out of the water and shook his pelt once more, not even trying to keep the water from flying toward the female. He whipped his tail back and forth, careful to dry it as well. When he was hardly damp at all, he pivoted toward the female and fixed her with an icy glare. "So, mind if I ask?" Alexius inquired then without waiting for her response said, "Good, good. Well, what would you be doing out here on such a great night to swim?"

[stripe]

Camari

The female panther growled softly, her white eyes raged with new found anger, like a fire gone ballistic in a forest she couldn't let this leopard go unharmed. He chuckled!!! At her!!! What other reason is better than that to give him a wicked wound to remember her by, to remember not to laugh or chuckle at her even for a moment. Plus when he glanced at her he was relieved...WHat was he relieved about! That she was female! That he could overpower her or something! Na-uh not gonna happen.

Well, hello. Quite an odd way of exchanging greetings you have.

She ignored him. She wasn't greeting him, quite the opposite, she was telling him good-bye. And, of course, she didn't mean that she herself was leaving but this man in front of her. He was gonna leave and let her drink her share of water in peace. She watched him carefully as he swam to wards the bank, not letting one thing slip her sight. He wasn't about to let him get away if he had plans to do so. She would chase him if he sought to do just that. He slid out of the water, water dripping from his flank which must be soaked with that acrid substance. She flexed her muscles ready to give him a few scratches, but the thought soon subsided into pure rage. When he shook his pelt it got her herself soaked and not only that she even flinched. It was enough to notify this person she herself was hydrophobic but she hoped that he didn't realize her slight movements.

Now her beautiful black fur soaked with water, it began to look like a mess. Hair sticking up every where on her pelt in stubs making her look like a ratty scavenger rather than a beautiful predator. She closed her eyes imagining every possible way to tear him apart in slow torturous ways in an attempt to keep herself calm, digging her claws into the soil. He was still her group member. She couldn't kill them off, she wasn't like her brother. The point of her inner conscious stung her and she quickly subsided into calmness. It was right, she was nothing like her brother and should let this man leave without a scratch but if he chooses to speak to her she will just give him the silence treatment or give him a minuscule scratch, not much.

So, mind if I ask?

She opened her eyes fixing him with a glare, really she knows not what else that speaks her mind more fully than a glare to another, a glare that said 'YES, I do mind so get the hell away from my sight'.

Good, good. Well, what would you be doing out here on such a great night to swim?

The panther almost laughed. A great night to swim, was it? She doubted that horribly. Feeling the acid water seeping through her pelt touching her skin, burning it with its cold intensity. It was far from a good night to swim and plus why would she want to swim!? She wanted nothing to do with the water. It is poison trying to constrict you, trying to slip out life from right beneath you. There was nothing good about it, it was hell. But she couldn't tell him that. It would show her weakness and right now the least thing she wanted on her hands was some guy pushing her into the water. So she just went for the normal response, if you can call it that.

She gave him an annoyed smile, her eyes still angry as ever. "Swimming you say, by the looks of me I can say it looks like I've gone swimming thanks to a certain person!!!" She started out casually but it gradually turned into a yell or soft roar. "Im just out here looking for some peace and quiet and I can't have that with you around so-" she paused flexing her muscles showing off her claws and teeth, "LEAVE!"

[Storm]

Alexius

A small caterpillar crawled on the leafy jungle that was the grass near his huge paw. Its powerful jointed muscular body portions enabled it to crawl straight up a blade of grass, furry body making an inaudible hiss on the imperfect surface. He focused his murky green-brown eyes on the creature's little adventure, promptly ignoring the fuming cat beside him. He let his thoughts wander once again, thinking about what it would like to be so small. He figured it must be pretty scary, and bugs that lived like it had to be brave. He wondered if he would be able to say the same one day. That he was brave... He knew he was brave, of course. But that was only physically. Mentally, though. It was different and hard, so hard to think about his sister and her horrible death. After a moment's thought about the life, pros, cons, and bravery of a caterpillar, he returned his attention back to the black panther that looked like she was about to pounce.

"Swimming you say, by the looks of me I can say it looks like I've gone swimming thanks to a certain person!!!"

She looked a little worked up, and the male considered telling her that but stopped himself. Might not be too good for his safety. Now that he was closer and fully aware that the cat had a face, he took in her appearance more acutely. She had sleek black fur, well groomed, sticking up in a couple places because of his water 'attack'. He could barely see why she was so angry. She didn't look that bad. She had powerful, brawny muscles, pulsating it seemed with every beat of her heart. Roughly a bit smaller then his, but slim and evenly matched in strength. She seemed a little scanty, though it was hardly noticeable and even more difficult to see under her masses of rugged power. Her eyes were odd. A wispy yellow, almost white color, something he'd never seen. It was a bit queer, but it added to the fierce aspects of her presence.

"I'm just out here looking for some peace and quiet and I can't have that with you around so LEAVE!"

Her exclamation snapped him out of his reverie, and he looked up with a pointedness on his features. He saw her claws glint in the celestial light and a gentle hiss rocked his body. He did not want to fight. Violence was not the answer with fellow clan mates. His potential outburst was just a warning. If she wanted blood, he could give her her own. But not now... not yet. His ears flew to the sides of his angular head and he lowered himself into a pouncing position, tail lashing back and forth. He knew if they fought they'd probably be too well-matched to leave without harming one another severely. That would not be good for them or Leopard Group. He had a life, and he did not want his duties to be disrupted by some selfish female. He had to talk some sense into her before they leaped at each other with tooth and claw.

"Easy now, easy." he murmured, voice like melting honey, a placating tone. "Now I think you know that's not very fair. Who was here first before you so rudely barged in and started throwing insults?" He didn't let her answer. The question was rhetorical. A growl made his body reverberate and he gently circled her in another ominous threat. With that, he shrugged his shoulders, a sly smile appearing on his spotted face. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going for a swim." He pounced back into the water, aware that he had sprayed more up the banks where the female stood. He paddled into the water, paws sinking deep into the wet sand. He thought of something then called back to her once more, "You're welcome to join me, if you want!" He knew she probably wouldn't. There was something up. It was just the way she acted around the water.

[stripe]

Camari

She glanced at the other leopard hoping her message had gotten across to the thick headed feline that he wasn't welcome here but on second thought it didn't look like he quite understood. She cried in annoyance in her mind making sure to make her features as stoic as possible other than the anger that continued to radiate off her in waves. Then he went into offense, getting into a pouncing position tail lashing and before he could even blink she went into defense crouching down close to the ground watching his movements tentatively extremely alert and lashing what she had left of a tail.

Easy now, easy.

She glared at him wondering how much of a dimwit he really was. What part of this should she take easy? All she wanted was a nice cold refreshing drink and the guy wouldn't even give her that, he just had to be persistent and not give her some peace. Thoughts coursed through her mind and she wondered if she really should just leave him at peace but she knew she had too much pride to give up her small moments of being alone.

Now I think you know that's not very fair. Who was here first before you so rudely barged in and started throwing insults?

She growled at him stiffening ready to pounce or scar him if he intended to pounce on her when she went off guard, well he thought Wong. She watched him not even flinching as he walked around her growling softly himself. Her ears swiveled to his direction waiting for any sudden movements or sounds or really anything that would alert her to his foul play of attacking someone from behind but then he came into view again and not only that, he wore a sly smile. What the hell was he up to? were her only thoughts before he said

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going for a swim

jumped back into the water spraying her with more of the acid. She jumped away but not in time for a typhoon to have hit her. This was the last straw. She wasn't gonna take him anymore. She rushed to the bank scanning the pool for the sight of that big cat and when she saw him her face twisted up on anger.

You're welcome to join me, if you want

Why couldn't he have just left, huh? Why did he have to be so stubborn and stay? All she wanted him to do was leave but he just had to have the nerve to say no and on top of that he might have figured out she was afraid of H2O. This was the worst night in her life she was sure and right now just looking at him made her angrier. He just had to stay and on top of that he was in the water. She stalked the bank of the water, her eyes flashing to wards him occasionally before she finally stopped. "Coward!! If you don't want to fight why don't just leave and get out of my flank! This is exactly why I hate all of you damned cats!!!" Her mind flashed to the leopard who had saved her as a cub but she quickly shook her head, now was not the time to dwell on the past especially in front of this dumbo. Slowly walking up to the water she swallowed her fear and jumped in.

She was about to show this guy that she wasn't afraid of anything and that there was no safe haven for him not even in the water from her. She locked her eyes shut not wanting the water to enter her eyes and so memories as a cub wouldn't flash through her mind, she began to slowly paddle whether it was down or up she had no clue and after about 30 seconds of being beneath she finally found the surface and gasped for breath slowly opening her eyes to reveal her surroundings only thing was she didn't see that damned leopard anymore. The black panther growled looking around frantically for the little enemie. "Where the hell are you, you big cat?" she asked through the darkness.

[Storm]

Alexius

Wind sent small waves of water forth, buffeting the large creature's chest, for he was only shoulder deep in the cool water. The beast's fur was slick, sticking to the sides of his abnormally lean body, curving around his muscles. The liquid slowly lapped at his neck as he took three more paw-steps, pads sinking into the distorted sod, the strange grains of sand clotting together and pushing upward between his claws. A purr racked his frame, and his thoughts flashed to the panther who stood before The Twilight Pool. Pity clouded his eyes for her 'problem', as he seemed liable to call it. Why she wouldn't go into the water was beyond him. Perhaps his taunting might help. He held that idea in his mind. Gently, though. As if it were a living thing that could be damaged by greater force. Feeling more peaceful then usual, the leopard dived under, letting the liquid clear his mind and keep him locked in his momentary contentment.

"Coward!"

He could hear the articulation under his archaic barrier of water. With an elegant thrash, he made his way to the surface, eyes secure on the female who cried out in the shadows further up. A bizarre smile graced his features. Coward? For a moment, he seemed intent on replying, Coward! Ha! Come out here and say that. However, he did not. It seemed too malicious and out of his personality. He did not willingly want to damage this hydrophobic cat's self esteem. No, he'd wait. Maybe a couple more insults, and he might come up with rebuttal such as the one he had thought. For now, though, he'd watch and see what the female would do when he didn't answer.

"If you don't want to fight why don't you just leave and get out of my flank? This is exactly why I hate all of you damned cats!"

A sigh passed the mighty leopard's lips. Insults and excuses. How predictable. He was hoping for a little more... huzzah. Some pep to her step. Right now, he was, in all definitions of the word, bored. He came out here to clear his mind, and she came demanding he left. After all the rudeness, she could at least give him a little umph. For a second, he actually considered leaving the deranged feline to her own business, but decided against it. Just wait. This might get good. The spotted cat watched with contentment as the she-cat cautiously jumped in. Th expression on her face was enough to make him chuckle darkly. Sure, it was instinct for some cats to be afraid of the water, but he'd never seen such a look of distaste for it on someone's face. His barbaric grin grew wider. See what you get for waiting? She's a comedian, this cat is.

"Where the hell are you, you big cat?"

Ha. She could not see him. It wasn't particularly unusual; the narrow-built male was in the darkest regions of the pool, using only his front paws to suspend him over the sand. But it did give him a few ideas. The cat sucked in as much oxygen as he could before letting himself sink back under. He blinked open his murky brown eyes in the water, observing the life only for a second. Tadpoles swam around him, sticking to his fur as he paddled deeper into the water, tail make a quiet splash as it too went downward. He headed for the panther, only stopping to watch two bright fishes fly by, their speed awing him. Finally, he reached the black feline, his lungs screaming at him for air. He thrust up with his back paws, popping out of the water just behind her.

"Looking for me?" His ears were slanted backward, his tail erect in the liquid. Paws kept him above the water while he swayed back and forth. His maw was a giant grin, showing all of his pearly white teeth. His mission had been to surprise the cat by appearing behind her, but now another hair-brained idea came to mind. Sure, it was foul play, but surely it would be comical. He brought his paws back, claws extended then brought them together, causing a wave of water to jump toward the already soaked female. "See? Water's not so bad." He scooted backward in case she lashed back with her claws, eyes full of amusement. Ha. She's going to kill me. The idiotic thought kept thundering in his mind.